MENTONE: New Orleans marching band makes local stop

Redlands resident Cynthia Capen, right, hugs The Rev. Tony Ricard after he arrives by bus with members of the New Orleans' St. Augustine High School Marching Band outside Mill Creek Cattle Company in Mentone on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Capen produced a documentary called "Father Tony".

Of the 200, 154 are members of the renowned marching band at St. Augustine High School, a Catholic school in New Orleans for African-American boys. The student musicians, their chaperones, teachers and band director dined at Mill Creek as part of their trip to Pasadena, where they are set to perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Yearâs Day.

Mill Creek owners Jim Lotito and his wife, Maribeth, treated the group to dinner. In return, the band performed several rousing numbers in the parking lot, including âLiving in America.â

The band and its entourage departed New Orleans at 4 a.m. Thursday in four tour buses and arrived in California at 4 a.m. Saturday. They spent time in Los Angeles, taking in the sights and getting in some band practice, before coming to Mentone for dinner Monday.

The Rev. Tony Ricard, pastor to the New Orleans Saints, dined with the St. Augustine High School Marching-100 Band at Mill Creek. Heâs also campus minister at St. Augustine, his alma mater, where he was in the band, too.

Redlands documentarian Cynthia Capen spent eight years making a documentary on Ricard â" a Creole with a distinctive rat-tail hairstyle â" and his life following Hurricane Katrina.

âFather Tony has a special place in his heart for Redlands,â said Capen, who met him when he spoke at her church, Holy Name of Jesus.

Capen is friends with the Lotitos, who helped sponsor her film. The couple joined her for the filmâs premier at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

Lotito said he opened his doors to the band because, âTheyâre from out of state. They needed someone to feed them.â

According to Capen, since the 1950s the band has performed for eight U.S. presidents, Pope John Paul II, at the Macyâs and Rose parades and several New Orleans Saints games.

Twins Denero and Derek Dunbar, 12, will be marching in Wednesdayâs Rose Parade. Both brothers play the trombone.

âBeing in the Rose Bowl Parade is fun and since we get to be on camera, nerve-racking,â Derek said.

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